Sanju Samson's heroic 97* against West Indies at Eden Gardens has sent India into the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals. See how the CSK star broke Virat Kohli's legendary record.
Is Sanju Samson the New King of Chases? How His Historic 97 Shattered Virat Kohli’s T20 World Cup Record (Image Source: X)
The Indian Cricket Team has entered the semi-finals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 after an exciting win at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Sunday, March 1 2026. In the "winner takes all" Super 8 game, Sanju Samson shocked everyone by playing the innings of his life, bludgeoning an unbeaten 97 to chase down a huge target of 196 against the West Indies.
This spectacular innings not only sealed India's semi-final berth but also saw Samson surpass Virat Kohli to become the highest scorer for an Indian in a successful T20 World Cup chase. Following this historic win, India is now on their way to Mumbai, where it will meet England in a highly-anticipated semi-final thriller.
For years, Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 82s—one against Australia in 2016, another against Pakistan in 2022 stood as the gold standard for Indian T20 chases. Now, Samson has changed that narrative. His unbeaten 97 off just 50 balls, packed with 12 boundaries and 4 sixes, dragged India out of trouble after an early collapse left them reeling at 41 for 2 in the powerplay.
This knock isn’t just another high score. It’s now the second-highest ever by an Indian in a T20 World Cup, just behind Suresh Raina’s 101 back in 2010. For Samson, who’s spent years bouncing in and out of the squad, this was not just a statement but a performance that shut up the doubters.
When he struck the winning runs in the last over, captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir, both of whom never stopped backing him, couldn’t hold back. They went wild on the sidelines, celebrating a moment that felt bigger than just another win.
| Stage | Match | Venue | Date |
| Semi-Final 1 | South Africa vs New Zealand | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | March 4, 2026 |
| Semi-Final 2 | India vs England | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | March 5, 2026 |
| The Final | TBC vs TBC | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | March 8, 2026 |
